Leak-proof containers for liquids



y 1957 A. DREYER ETAL 2,799,314

LEAK-PROOF CONTAINERS FOR LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 2, 1952 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1"51" lNVE N,TO RS I I WMLM July 16, 1957 A. DREYER ETAL 2,799,314

LEAK-PROOF CONTAINERS FOR LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 2, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3IMNmRSZ mm M United States Patent '0 Andr Dreyer and Maurice F. deToledo, Geneva, Switzerland Application September 2, 1952, Serial No.307,438

Claims priority, application Switzerland September 7, 1951 4 Claims.(Cl. 150-.5)

The principal object of the present invention is to provide anabsolutely leak-proof container for liquids,

particularly for distribution thereof.

The container comprises boundary walls of an impervious pliable materialdefining a liquid-receiving space, a filling and emptying duct attachedto the edges of an opening of said container and extending into theinside of said container and having an orifice at the inner end thereof,said duct comprising a pair of superimposed pliable foils laterallyjoined together and adapted to be collapsed by the pressure of liquid insaid container to operate as a check valve, said duct defining a firstpoint of reduced cross-sectional area situated immediately adjacent saidopening of said container to preclude the pressure of liquid in saidcontainer from pushing said duct out of said container, said duct alsodefining a second point of reduced cross-sectional area situated betweensaid first point of reduced cross-sectional area and said orifice ofsaid duct, said second point of reduced cross-sectional area beingformed by bonds between said foils interconnecting marginal zonesthereof and extending transversely to said duct.

The aforementioned bonds extending along the fiexible portion of theduct do not affect the pliability of the latter transversely to theplane of the sheets or foils of which it is made up, but they provide aneffective bracing means for the edges of the duct tending to precludethe duct from being upset by internal fluid pressure, i. e. its insidefrom being pushed outwardly.

' The container may be made, wholly or in part, of a flexible materialcompatible with the properties of the fluid which it is intended tocontain and the duct or conduit may be made, wholly or in part, of thesame inaterial. The cost of the container depends largely on'thematerial of which it is made. If this material is inexpensive thecontainer may be disposed of after use instead of being recovered andcleaned. This ensures a great simplification in handling thedistribution of certain liquid products, such as' milk, and thereforeincreased economy.

The drawing annexed hereto shows, by way of example anddiagrammatically, five embodiments of the container according to theinvention.

'Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the saidcontainer.

Fig. 2 is a section along line 22 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, the container however beingshown during filling.

' Fig. 4 is a section along 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a second embodiment. Figs. 6, 7 and 8,are respectively, sections along lines 6'6, 7-7 and 88 of Fig. 5. v

4 Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l0.is a section along line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is an elevational view of a fourth embodiment of'theinvention.

ice

Fig. 12 is a section along line 12'-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section similar to that of Fig. 12, showing the containerduring filling.

Fig. 14 is a section along line 14 -14 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a section along line 1616 of Fig. 15, and

Fig. 17 is a section similar to Fig. 16, showing the container duringfilling.

In all the figures of the drawing, the same reference numerals indicatelike parts or members. j

The container shown in Figs. 1 to 4 consists of a sheet of imperviousflexible material, folded over itself at 1 and bonded at 2 at its edgesopposite to the fold 1. The tubular structure thus formed is closed atits ends also by an appropriate bond extending along the respective endedges of the sheet of flexible or pliable material as shown at 3 and 4.

The two walls 5 and 6 of the container thus formed are bonded togetherinternally along lines 7 and 8. Holes 9 and 10 provided in each of thecorners of the containers are isolated from the principal part thereofby bonds 7 and 8. These holes may be used for suspending the container,if desired.

A duct or conduit 11 passes through the walls of the container andextends into the inside of the latter. This duct or conduit is made upof two sheets of flexible material (which may be the same material asthat forming the container proper), bonded together at their edges 12and 13. Duct or conduit 11 is fixedly supported by the container. Theinside of duct 11 is provided with a constriction 14, obtained bybonding its two constituent sheets together along a first bond extendingbetween points 15 and 16 and along a second bond extending betweenpoints 17 and 18. The width or crosssectional area of the passage formedbetween points 16 and 18 is smaller than the width or cross-sectionalarea oforifice 19 in the container. The width or cross-sectional area ofthe duct or conduit 11 decreases gradually along a portion of its lengthtowards orifice 19.

The portion of duct 11 within the container forms a check valve.Constriction 14 prevents the valve formed by duct or conduit 11 frombeing pushed out from the inside of the container by the action ofpressure prevailing therein. This danger is imminent when the containeris subjected to an outer pressure. The juxtaposed inner surfaces of theinner part of the duct or conduit 11 operating as a check valve must berelatively large to cause firm mutual adherence of said surfaces whenflattened and pressed one against the other under the action of thepressure of the liquid Within the container. The need of providingsurfaces of large area to operate as a check valve requires a conduit 11of relatively large size, which could easily be turned back outwardly bythe action of pressure of a fluid within the container if this were notrendered impossible by the constriction 14.

When the container is empty, practically the entire surfaces of its twowalls 5 and 6 are in physical engagement or contact with each other.Under such conditions the two sheets forming the duct or conduit 11 arealso in physical engagement or contact with each other practically ontheir entire surface. in Figs. 2 and 4 of the draw ing these sheets areshown as being spaced from each other for claritys sake. The bonds atthe edges 12 and 13 of the sheets forming the duct or conduit 11constitute strengthening ribs for the conduit, particularly the partthereof Where its width diminishes gradually. These strengthening ribspreclude the duct or conduit 11 from folding over itself from theorifice 19 under the action of fluid pressure prevailing in thecontainer. Since the two sheets forming the duct or conduit 11 are inphysical engagement or contact with each other, an escape of thecontents of the container through the orifice 19 is practicallyimpossible, the pressure prevailing in the container tending to m in a nthe hee in phys cal e gag m n n perat e sh et em m tns p r To fill thecontainer a rigid tube 29 (Fig. 3) may be inserted in the duct orconduit 11 and the filling fluid made to flow through this tube into thecontainer. During the filling operation the lips of the orifice 19 willS a d slightly apart as shown in Fig. 3, but as soon as the flow offluid into the container ceases the lips will close again.

To empty the container the latter may be opened by tearing its wall. Asan alternative, tube 20 may be inserted into the duct or conduit 11 insuch a Way as to emerge from, or project beyond, the orifice 19.

Instead of being formed by one single sheet folded over itself at 1,,the container may be constituted by two sheets bonded together alongtheir entire periphery. Instead of being formed by two sheets bondedtogether at their edges,

conduit 11 may be constituted by a single sheet of suitable plasticmaterial folded over itself and bonded together at the two registeringedges of the sheet.

In the container shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 3, the filling duct orconduit 11 is formed by folding the corner region of the walls 5 and 6of the container to the inside thereof. The walls 5 and 6 of thecontainer are bonded to each other at 21 between the points 22 and 23,and at 24 between the points 25 and 26. Walls 5 and 6 are also bondedtogether between the points 22 and 27 and at 28. The latter bond 28 hasa triangular shape. It gives to the duct or conduit 11 cross-sectionalarea of gradually decreasing size. The inner orifice 19 of the duct orconduit is formed between bonds 28 and 27. Another orifice 29 of theduct or conduit is formed between the points 23 and 25. When thecontainer is filled, duct or conduit 11 is held closed not only in theregion of its orifice 19, but throughout its whole length. Bond 28 andthe bond extending from the point 22 to the point 27 form strength eningribs precluding duct 11 from being upset and pushed out of the containerby the pressure of fluid stored therein. To fill the container a tube 20of a funnel may be inserted in the duct or conduit by passing it throughthe orifice 29 until it projects beyond orifice 1?.

The container shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is formed of a flat tube closed bybonds 3 and at the ends thereof. Its filling duct or conduit 11 isformed by two sheets bonded to each other along their edges 12 and i3.Duct 11 is provided with lips adjacent to its outer orifice 29 whichlips are connected to one of the walls of the container by bonds 3% and31. The bonded together edges 12 and 13 of duct or conduit 11 formstrengthening ribs precluding the duct or conduit 11 from being turnedinside out by the pressure of fluid stored within the container. Whenthe container is filled with fluid its filling duct or conduit is heldclosed and operated as a check valve. Filling and emptying of thecontainer shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is effected in the same manner asfilling and emptying of the two containers shown in Figs. 1 to 8,inclusive.

The container shown in Figs. 11 to 14 includes a casing which is made ofa very thin tube of flexible material, such as, for example,polyethylene. The tube is closed at the lower end by a bond 4 betweenjuxtaposed parts 5 and 6 of its wall. At its upper end, the casing ispartly closed by two lengths of bond 3 extending transversely from eachof the corners of the casing similarly to bond 4. A duct or conduit 11inserted into the casing is placed between the two spaced bonds 3. Thisconduit is made of two sheets of a flexible or pliable material ofsubstantially the same kind as that of which the casing is made. Thesesheets are joined to each other by bonds 12 and i3 slightly inciinedwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the duct or conduit and of thecontainer. Bonds 12, i3 terminate a certain distance from the lower orinner end of the conduit, so as to leave an orifice i between thesheets, at the lower end of the conduit. Each of the two sheets is cutto form a point and the two points formed by the two sheets aresuperimposed in registry. Thus the conduit forms two floating lips 32decreasing in width from their respective point of attachment to theduct or conduit. The shape of lips 32 is pointed and they are arrangedopposite each other. As shown in Figs. 11 to 14 the conduit 11 issecured to the casing by bonds 1516 and 1718 which are extensions ofbonds 3. Bonds lS-16 and 17-48 join the two sides of the walls of thecasing and the two sheets forming duct or conduit 11. Bonds 1516 and17-18 overlap with bonds 12 and 13 uniting the sheets which form duct11. They form lateral extensions of the central bonds 16-18 connectingeach sheet to the adjacent wall of the casing. For storing certainliquids, for example not very viscous liquids, it may be advantageousthat the thickness of each lip 32 i. e. the thickness of the sheetmaterial of which it is made, decrease from the point of attachment ofthe lip to the duct or conduit.

It will be observed that the bonds 15-16 and 1 7.-18 define aconstriction 14 of the conduit whose width or cross-sectional area issmaller than that of the inner orifice 19 in the container. Below thebonds 15-16 and 1718 the width or cross-sectional area of the conduit,limited by the bonds 12 and 13, decreases progressively toward theinside of the container. It will also be observed that the duct orconduit 11 is split along its two lateral edges situated outside of thecasing. If desired, the two sheets forming duct 11 may also be bondedtogether at the lateral edges thereof situated outside of the casing.

This container is able to resist a great amount of pressure when it isfilled with fluid without any leakage of the liquid ,or gas containedtherein. When the container is strongly squeezed or struck, the casingbursts rather than allowing the contents thereof to escape through theduct or conduit.

According to a variant of the invention not shown, the duct or conduitis made from a length of tubing of flexible material having a smallerdiameter than the tube of which the casing is formed. In this embodimentof the invention the portion of the conduit situated outside the casingwould be closed laterally, and there would be no need of makingadditional bonds at this point.

When making the bonds 1516 and 1718 in the structure of Figs. 11 to 13it is generally necessary to place an intermediary sheet, for instance asheet of cellulose acetate, between the internal walls of the duct orconduit 11 in order to prevent these walls from sticking together. Useof such an intermediary sheet or spacer may be dispensed with if theportions of duct or conduit 11 intended to form constriction 14, ratherthan to be permanently bonded together, are coated with a suitableadhesive forming a separable bond but precluding the formation of apermanent bond. If the constricted portion 14 is internally coated withan adhesive forming a separable bond, the filled container may be sealedat 14 by applying pressure from the outside thereof against the adhesivecoated surfaces. When it is intended to empty the container a rigid tubeis introduced into the duct or orifice 11, separating the walls thereofby overcoming the action of the adhesive, which tube can then be used toempty the container through it.

If desired a filling tube can be applied when filling the container forseparating the walls of the duct or conduit adhering to each other byvirtue of a coating of adhesive.

This adhesive ought to be chosen appropriately depending upon thecontents of the container. If the liquid is a beverage the adhesiveshould not contain any poisonous substance and substance tending toaffect taste or odor. A suitable adhesive for this application is asynthetic resin-type adhesive.

The container shown in Figs. 15 to 17 includes a casing 1 which is madeof a very thin tube of flexible material, such as, for example,polyethylene. The tube is closed at the lower end of the casing by abond 4 between a part of 'itswall 5 and the opposite part of wall 6. At

its upper end the casing is partly closed by two bonds 3 which aresimilar to the bond 4 extending transversely across the longitudinaledges of the said casing, and by two bonds 3' substantially parallel tobonds 3. Bonds 3 and 3' are spaced a certain distance from each other. Aduct or conduit 11 is inserted into the casing at right angles to andbetween the bonds 3 and 3'. The duct or conduit 11 is made of two sheetsof a flexible material similar to that forming the casing. These sheetsare joined together by bonds 12 and 13 leaving therebetween an orifice19 situated at the lower end of the duct or conduit 11. The duct orconduit 11 is secured to the casing by bonds 15-16 and 17-18 formingextensions of bonds 3 and connecting the walls of the casing to the twosheets forming the duct or conduit 11. Bonds 15-16 and 17-18 join bonds12 and 13 uniting the two duct-forming sheets and join also the centralbonds connecting each sheet to the adjacent wall of the casing betweenthe points 16 and 18. A constriction 14 formed within the duct orconduit 11 serves the same purpose as a similar constriction in theother embodiments of the invention. The conduit 11 is also secured tothe casing by bonds 33 and 34 which are extensions of the bonds 3' andconnect the walls of the casing and the two sheets forming duct orconduit 11. Bond 34 extends downwards as far as the bonds 15-16 and17-18 hence duct or conduit 11 is bonded to the wall 5 of the casingover a relatively large area situated within a space between the bonds 3and 3'. This space is opened laterally to the exterior of the containerby means of a lateral slit 35, cut into the casing between the bonds 3and 3', in order to allow the introduction of a rigid tube 20 into thisspace.

When the tube 20 is introduced into the space formed between the bonds 3and 3, the conduit 11 ismade to bend or curve around tube 20, thuspartially encircling tube 20. Thus an additional closing means is addedto the check valve action of conduit 11 and consequently the containerrendered more tight.

In the container shown the length of the conduit 11 inside the containeris so shaped as to have a tendency to roll up spirally around itself, asshownin Fig. 16. This arrangement also notably improves the'tightness ofthe check valve formed by the conduit 11. The tendency to wind up orcurl spirally around itself exhibited by the length of the conduit 11inside the casing 1 can be brought about in several different ways. Forinstance, a part of the length of conduit 11 may be wound around amandrel of small diameter and heat-treated while on the mandrel at atemperature sufficiently high to soften the material. This heattreatment can be carried out by means of a high frequency generator, theabove referredto mandrel being made of a conductive material and formingone of the armatures of a condenser. The portion of conduit 11 intendedto be heat-treated forms the dielectric of the condenser, and thisportion is surrounded by another electrode. When carrying this processinto effect it may be necessary to place intermediary sheets, forinstance sheets of glass fiber coated with silicone, between the sheetsforming conduit 11 and between the turns of conduit 11 Wound around themandrel, in order to prevent sticking of these sheets and these turns.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 15 to 17 has theadvantage that it is an integrated unit since it includes ahousing'containing a rigid tube 20 which can be used for filling and foremptying the container. Because of the elasticity of the material ofwhich casing 1 and conduit 11 are made, the tube 20 when placed into thespace between the bonds 3 and 3' cannot easily get lost, it beingfrictionally held in the position thereof. When it is desired to takeout tube 20, it is only necessary to pinch the container at the pointthereof opposite its opening 35, so as to partly bring tube 20 outthrough opening 35. The tube can then be seized and taken completely outof the container to introduce it intothe com duit 11, between the en ds16 and 18 of bonds 15-16 and 17-18, and to unwind the length of conduit11 situated inside the casing by pushing the tube into the conduit 11.When conduit 11 has been so unwound, the container can be easily filledor emptied through the tube 20. When the tube 20 is afterwards withdrawnfrom the conduit 11, the length of the latter which is inside the casing1 winds up again around itself, thus ensuring perfect tightness of thecontainer.

What we claim is:

1. A fluid-tight container comprising boundary walls of an imperviouspliable material defining a liquid-receiving space, a filling andemptying duct arranged in an opening of said container and attached tothe edges of said opening, said duct extending into the inside of saidcontainer and having an orifice at the inner end thereof, said ductcomprising a pair of superimposed pliable foils laterally joinedtogether and adapted to be collapsed by the pressure of liquid in saidcontainer to operate as a check valve, means for constricting said ductto define a first point of reduced cross-sectional area situatedimmediately adjacent said opening of said container to preclude thepressure of liquid in said container from pushing said duct out of saidcontainer, and said duct defining a second point of reducedcross-sectional area situated between said first point of reducedcrosssectional area and said orifice of said duct, said second point ofreduced cross-sectional area being formed by bonds between said foilsinterconnecting marginal zones thereof.

2. A fluid-tight container as specified in claim 1 wherein said bondsbetween said foils converge toward said orifice of said duct.

3. A fluid-tight container comprising boundary walls of an imperviouspliable material defining a liquid-receiving space, a filling andemptying duct arranged in an opening of said container and attached tothe edges of said opening, said duct extending into the inside of saidcontainer and having an orifice at the inner end thereof, said ductcomprising a pair of superimposed pliable foils laterally joinedtogether and adapted to be collapsed by the pressure of liquid in saidcontainer to operate as a check valve, means for contricting said ductto define 'a first point of reduced cross-sectional area situatedimmediately adjacent said opening of said container to preclude thepressure of liquid in said container from pushing said duct out of saidcontainer, said duct further defining a second point of reducedcross-sectional area situated between said first point of reducedcross-sectional area and said orifice of said duct, said second point ofreduced cross-sectional area being formed by bonds between said foilsinterconnecting marginal zones thereof, and the ends of said foilssituated adjacent said orifice of said duct being free to be movedtransversely to said duct.

4. A fluid-tight container comprising boundary walls of an imperviouspliable material defining a liquid receiving space, a filling andemptying duct arranged in an opening of said container attached to theedges of said opening, said duct extending into the inside of saidcontainer and having an orifice at the inner end thereof, said ductcomprising a pair of superimposed pliable foils laterally joinedtogether and adapted to be collapsed by the pressure of liquid in saidcontainer to operate as a check valve, means for constricting said ductto define a first point of reduced cross-sectional area situatedimmediately adjacent said opening of said container to preclude thepressure of liquid in said container from pushing said duct out of saidcontainer, said duct defining a second point of reduced cross-sectionalarea situated between said first point of reduced cross-sectional areaand said orifice of said duct, said second point of reducedcrosssectional area being formed by bonds between said foilsinterconnecting marginal zones thereof, and the cross-sec- 8 tjonal areaof said first point of reduced cross-sectional 465,649 Roberts Dec. 22,1891 area being smaller than the cross-sectional area of said 683,897Bates Oct. 8, 1901 second point of reduced cross-sectional area.1,689,453 Randolph Oct. 30, 192&

2,040,356 Butcher May 12, 1936 References Cited in the file of-thispatent 5 2,068,134 Houghton Jan. 19, 1937 UN TED STATES PATENTS 2 02 Mzg y 1 4 Re. 12,081 Bates Feb, 17, 1903 R ,3 7 K n t-,-----t-t---t-e-t-t-- A 1941

